The CO2EXIDE project aims at the development of a combined electrochemical-chemical technology for the simultaneous “200%” conversion of CO2 to ethylene at the cathode, water oxidation to hydrogen peroxide at the anode and a subsequent chemical conversion of both intermediates to ethylene oxide and oligo-/polyethylene glycol in a cascade, boosting this technology from TRL4 to TRL6. The CO2EXIDE technology combines a modular nature for the feasibility of a decentralised application, a high energy and material efficieny/yield and the substitution of fossil based production of ethylene oxide. The CO2EXIDE technology will be combinable with renewables and allows for the direct creation of products, which can be integrated into the existing supply chain. The reactions will be operated at low temperatures and pressures and forecast significant improvements in energy and resource efficiency combined with an enormous reduction of GHG emissions. All improvements will be quantitated using Life Cycle Assessment. The CO2EXIDE approach will bring together physicists, chemists, engineers and dissemination and exploitation experts from 5 universities/research institutions, 3 SMEs and 2 industries, innovatively joining their key technologies to develop and exploit an unprecedented process based on CO2, renewable energy and water to combine the chemical and energy sector. Within 36 months project duration, the CO2EXIDE technology will undergo a thorough material and component R&D programme. A 1kW PEM electrolyser for CO2-reduction and water oxidation in combination with an ethylene enrichment unit and subsequent chemical conversion cascade reactor will be manufactured to produce ethylene oxide as intermediate for oligo-/polyethylene glycol synthesis. This will prove the achievement of the quantified techno-economic targets of CO2EXIDE.

ENABLING is the initiative of 16 partners in 13 EU and associated (IL, NO) countries. The main goal is to support the spreading of best practices and innovation in the provision (production, pre-processing) of biomass for the BBI (Bio-Based Industry). In particular, ENABLING aims at creating appropriate conditions for the development of efficient biomass to BBPs (Bio-Based Products and Processes) value chains. The consortium’s vision is that Europe bears a huge potential for optimising the supply of biomass into innovative bio-based processes and products. Upscaling biomass production and pre-processing, and combining streams towards the BBPs with those of more traditional bioenergy chains would enhance at least three interlinked types of impact. a) biomass production gains scale to meet higher demand in both sectors (bioenergy and the BBI); b) the reinforcement of biomass supply for the BBI benefits smaller BBI players, helping them diversify and consolidate biomass input sources; c) reinforcing the biomass and BBPs linkages may contribute to job-creation, due to the increased need for specialised workers. To realise such potential, ENABLING also anticipates its longer term exploitation pathways. In the intention of the consortium, the project should aggregate and engage partners for the establishment of a permanent innovation brokerage platform, likely to become in the future, one of the main marketplaces and innovation transfer accelerators at European level. In this sense, the project organises its work around two building blocks: one relates to animating the stakeholders (on the farming and BBPs sides), identifying best practices, turning them into easy to access content (in the EIP format) for their potential users and providing stakeholders with coaching and guidance on innovation. The other one looks at future developments, with the consolidation, in a self-sustainable way, of the innovation brokerage platforms after the end of the EU funded initiative.